Gardening 101

Olivewood Gardens, one of the most peaceful places I have ever been to. Picture a lush garden, palm trees, a slight sea breeze, a panoramic view of your surroundings, and the warm sun of Southern California all put together in a few acres. This is it, it is great, and it was the Waltons (Walmart founders). They generously donated this piece of property and home to an organization that eventually turned it into Olivewood Gardens and Education Center. Our time spent here is sometimes very tranquil and relaxing, but it isn't always this way. After working with a school group the first day, we were asked to dig a garden bed. This garden bed was quite the task considering the ground was rock hard and the trench was large. The project was a great intro to our time at Olivewood. Even though the work was demanding, I loved it. There is something about the task of digging to an end result that is rewarding. I felt very accomplished at the end of the first day and enjoyed the aches and pains later that night.

We have been working here now since Wednesday and every day isn't as demanding as the first. We have helped them with several projects including building compost piles, compost bins, creating garden beds, and some other odds and ends. Also we have been getting in on the daily chores and operations that can fill up a day in a hurry. They have seven acres in total to look after and much of this is gardened or tended too. I have been learning a lot here about making things grow and how to make things die to make other things grow. One thing that Olivewood Gardens does is bio-dynamic composting. To be completely honest, i'm not sure what the bio-dynamic part means but I hear it a lot.

Chickens are a part of my life again. Several times last year have we been around them and they seem to grow on ya. At first I wasn't to sure, but after seeing all the benefits of having them around, I am starting to like the idea. They make delicious eggs, eat bugs, recycle food scraps, aerate the lawn and soil, fertilize the ground, taste good themselves, and are kinda fun to have around. Many of the chickens here will eat right out of your hand. It is amazing to see how fast and accurate they are with grabbing things. Some day I may own a few of these things myself.

Olivewood's concept is to bring kids back to the garden and eat healthy. Seeing the field trips full of 5th graders excited about growing things makes me excited about the possibilities of their generation. People have grown apart from the gardens and the kitchen where it is prepared. Olivewood is bringing it back, showing them how it all happens, looking at the ecology of it all, and then going further and teaching how to utilize it. The cooking classes are probably the most fun. Seeing 10 fifth grade boys and girls work together to make coleslaw is a sight to see. Then to have the miraculous outcome of delicious coleslaw is the icing on the cake. It was great seeing them learn how to use the very same vegetables that they harvested from the garden in a food they all like to eat.

Last and by not least, the people here are fantastic. I had been contacting Ally for a while before making it to the garden and I could tell they were a good bunch. Everyone at Olivewood wants to be there and is passionate about the programs and the kids. One thing that sets some organizations apart from others is when the employees and staff are in it because they believe in what they are doing. It is easy to support and help a place when everyone is in it because they are looking for the same success. The volunteers we have met at Olivewood have been great as well. Anthony is one who took us out one night after work and showed us around the town. He was a bonus addition to the amazing staff they have.

A fun experience we had on Sunday was going out kayaking in the ocean. We have some awesome neighbors, Stewart and Kathy, that have been a great time to hang out with. We have had dinner over at their camper a few times now and got to know this fun couple. We loaded up Stewarts truck with over 70ft worth of kayaks and headed to La Jolla beach. Once there, the level of difficulty set in when we watched the surf pound the shoreline. But regardless of these hurdles, we got all geared up and ready to head out to the kelp beds. I was first to attempt the break through from shoreline out past the surf. I carefully watched the waves and figured out a pattern. Once it felt right, I jumped in the boat and paddled my kayak straight out as fast as possible. Gaining some water over the bow of my boat on the way out was a give in but I made it. Hand bailing began once I was out of harms way and into the rolling waves. Chad and Ben made it out soon after, Ben's boat being totally full of water and Chads 17ft kayak was finally at home and dry. We bailed water for a bit till we saw Stewart find his way out, half submerged, half bobbing out of the ocean. His cockpit filled and front bulk head also full up. The options were slim on how to fix this problem. Stewart had to jump out and hang out in the water while us three helped bail his boat. After some time we got it afloat again and got him in it. We were all alive, high, and dry. Well kinda... The paddle out to the kelp beds and back was great. We saw some seals and sea lions and rode some huge rolling waves that made it feel like a roller coaster ride. Riding the final waves back into shore was great fun and brought me back to the time Chad and I attempted surfing my kayak in Lake Michigan a few years earlier. Didn't quite go as smooth as it did here in San Diego.

So, future plans. I find myself always writing something about the future in my blogs but never giving a solid answer. Always a teaser of what could happen but then I always throw in some combination of words to keep ya guessing. At the moment we are loving where we are. KOA San Diego has been more than generous and put us up for the time we have been here in San Diego. Clint was the guy in charge of assisting us and has really been such a big help to us. The camp ground is one of the nicest I have ever seen. The amenities, location, and staff all make this campground one of my favorite spots on the journey I have called home. But in the true spirit of my blogs and with no definite future answers, we plan to head east here soon. Mid week maybe... I know we will stay south on our travels. I know I will be riding in the bus. But all other details are a mystery.